Services

We offer a range of services to support, educate and empower you through the many stages of early parenthood.  Whether you are preparing to welcome your second baby or navigating the toddler years, meeting in-person for an individual or couples session allows us to tailor our time together so that we are addressing your specific concerns and needs.  Session can be conducted in-person, via phone or Skype and typically last an hour.

You Plus 2 Parenting Services

Sibling Preparation-Helping Your Big Kid Become a Big Sib:  Expecting a new addition to your family and worried about how your oldest child will adjust?  During our meeting, we will discuss:

• When and how to break the news to your big kid about the pregnancy
• Ways to teach your child about babies, what babies “do,” and how he/she can help mommy when the baby comes
• How to prepare your child for the separation while you have the baby
• Strategies for making a smooth introduction between new siblings
• Ways to address negative behavior or behavior regression after the baby arrives
• Ways to balance the needs of both children and yourself during the post-partum recovery period

I’m a Big Sister/I’m a Big Brother!  Sibling Prep for Your Big Kid:  Not sure how to start preparing your first born for the arrival of the little one?  Then let us take the lead!  We will come to your home and use play-based techniques to teach and talk to your child about the following:

The Bedtime Routine:  Strategies to Survive Dinner-Bath-Bed with Two!: Is bedtime a disaster in your house? Has your dinner-bath-bedtime routine disappeared? Are your kids sharing a room and keeping each other (and you!) awake? The evening is by far the most difficult part of the day with two children. During our session we will discuss:

Out and About with Two in Tow: Are you scared to hit the pavement with two on your own? Does the idea of taking two kids to the playground make you a nervous wreck? In our session, we will discuss:

• How to prepare and get out the door on time
• How to navigate using public transportation with two kids
• Safe and manageable ways to be out in public when you’re out-handed! (at the playground, indoor play spaces, museums) and many other “scary” scenarios.
• Product recommendations that will make your time on-the-go much easier

Beyond the Basics Services

Potty Training 101, A Step-By-Step Guide: It’s a milestone that all toddlers must go through, yet is can be confusing and overwhelming to parents.  When to start, how to achieve success, how to know whether or not to pull back if it’s not working–these are all questions that we will answer when we meet in addition to discussing:

• How to recognize signs of readiness and begin early preparation
• The necessary tools and equipment you will need for success
• Practicing vs. “Real” potty training
• The steps of real potty training, how to teach through play, how to stay positive & supportive of your child
• How to manage potty training out in public

Moving to a Big Kid Bed & Other Sleep-Related Challenges: Is your toddler ready to make the move to a big kid bed, but you are hesitant to pull the trigger?  Maybe you are struggling with other sleep-related issues such as night wakings, night terrors, early wake up times, or keeping your child in his bed/crib.  We will customize our meeting to address your specific sleep needs.  Some examples of topics include:

• Recognizing signs of readiness to move to a Big Kid Bed
• The necessary tools and equipment you will need for success
• How to identify what’s causing sleep interruptions
• “Stay in bed” techniques
• How to sleep train a previously trained child
• How to prepare your child to share his/her room with a sibling
• How to wean your child from co-sleeping into his/her own bed

Discipline & Boundary Setting:  Are you struggling to institute discipline in your home?  Do you feel at a loss for how to mitigate your child’s unwanted negative behavior?  Testing the boundaries and pushing back is a normal part of toddler development, but knowing when/how to enforce rules and how to address negative and unwanted behavior can be very overwhelming to parents.  In this session, you will learn:

• The ages and stages of appropriate discipline techniques and strategies
• Your parenting style and how to find your parenting “sweet spot”
• Natural vs logical consequences
• Techniques such as redirection & distraction, incentives & positive reinforcement
• A step by step guide for  the  time out/”taking a break” techniques
• …and much more

Preparing Your Child for Separation:  Are you preparing to go back to work or maybe you’re starting with a new baby sitter?  Perhaps your toddler will be going to a drop off class or preschool soon and you are nervous about how he/she will manage with separation.  When we meet we will chat about:

• Ways you can begin preparing your child for the transition ahead of time
• Recommended tools, toys & books to aid in preparation
• What to say to validate feelings of worry or fear during the separation
• How to encourage coping skills and ways your toddler can ask for help during separation
• What do to upon reunification to encourage future success

“EQ”-Your Toddler’s Social/Emotional Health:  Does your child fall apart easily or have a difficult time when things don’t go his way?  Maybe he is struggling with transitions at home or school and seems to lack resilience during difficult situation.  When we meet, we will discuss the following:

• How to teach coping mechanisms
• How to encourage flexibility and manage transitions more smoothly
• Ways to model compassion & empathy
• How to facilitate more independent problem-solving skills
• How to help your toddler regulate impulses and practice self-control

General Support

I Need a Shoulder: Parenting is HARD…sometimes you just need someone to talk too.  Maybe you’re exhausted, you feel emotional, unsupported, or overwhelmed.  Maybe you’re worried about going back to work or you are struggling in your relationship with your partner or going through a separation or divorce.  Whatever the case, we are here to listen.

• We will sort through the mental and emotional struggles you may be having
• I will teach you ways to relieve stress and cope with your feelings
• We will identify areas of support in your life that you can turn to
• We will come up with a plan to help you navigate this difficult time.

Couple in Crisis: You and your partner are not in a good place and you are looking for ways to re-establish your connection so that you can once again be partners in life and in parenthood.  I will meet with you as a couple, we will identify areas of strain and we will talk about:

• Ways to improve communication and problem-solving skills together
• How to co-parent more effectively so that the burden isn’t solely on one person’s shoulders
• How to productively talk about the problem areas with one another to avoid criticizing or feeling defensive
• Ways to find alone time with one another so you can reconnect
• …and much more.

READY TO SCHEDULE YOUR SESSION? Contact Me to set up a time.

Gift Cards

Have a friend or family member who is expecting #2 or has recently had a second baby?  Or maybe you know a parent of a toddler who could use some support and guidance. Give the gift of support in the form of a You Plus 2 Gift Card. You can choose a specific service, or apply a monetary amount towards any service and let the new mom decide!